Your stay — Casa das Ilhas
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The Property — Casa das Ilhas
Casa das Ilhas is a modest three-star guesthouse on the main street of Pombas, with a whitewashed facade and blue shutters that catch the Atlantic light. The lobby is small but tidy, with tiled floors and a fan spinning overhead; the staff greet you by name. Its USP is location: a five-minute walk from the black-sand beach and the central market, making it a solid base for budget travellers who want to explore Santo Antão without frills. It suits independent hikers and couples who prefer a clean, no-nonsense stay over resort amenities.
Chronicles of Pombas
Pombas was founded in the 18th century as a natural harbour for shipping coffee and sugarcane from the interior valleys of Santo Antão. Its architecture is a mix of Portuguese colonial single-storey houses with red-tile roofs and later concrete blocks, reflecting periods of boom and neglect. The old customs house and the church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição still stand near the waterfront. Today, the town is the main administrative hub for the northern Ribeira Grande district, but it retains a sleepy, village feel. Locals earn a living from fishing, small-scale farming, and a trickle of walkers heading to the Paul valley.
Best Time to Visit
Full Pombas guide →Best months
January to March – dry, sunny, and cool enough for long hikes; fewer tourists than December or April.
Peak / festival surge
August and September – peak holiday season for European tourists and Cape Verdeans returning home. Hotel prices can double, and the Pombas market is busier. Events include the Nossa Senhora do Rosário festival (October), but August heat and humidity can be uncomfortable for walking.
Budget shoulder season
April and November – lower prices, quieter trails, and still mostly dry. April is warm but not oppressive; November sees the start of the short rains but good deals.
Weather & packing
The Barlavento islands have a microclimate: Northeast trade winds bring a persistent mist to windward slopes like Pombas, even in dry months. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket and sturdy shoes for sudden mountain showers.
Live City Briefing — Pombas
- The ferry service from Mindelo to Porto Novo remains suspended for maintenance as of June 2026; check for updates on alternative transport via the new road tunnel.
- Pombas' main market reopened in May after a roof renovation; now has better drainage and lighting, but stall numbers are reduced.
- The Paul valley hiking trailhead just outside Pombas was cleared in March after January landslides; still expect loose gravel on the upper sections.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Casa das Ilhas, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor (floor 1) facing the rear courtyard. These rooms are slightly elevated above ground level, reducing street noise, and the courtyard orientation avoids the front road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms (floor 0) facing the main road. These are closest to street-level noise and pedestrian traffic, with no buffer from the pavement.
Best views
Rooms at the front of the hotel (facing the main road through Pombas) offer sea views over the town, but with traffic noise. Rear rooms overlook the village hills and are quieter.
Quietest floors
First floor (floor 1) and above. The third floor is quietest if the lift is not heavily used, but top-floor rooms may get more heat from the roof.
🔊 Noise notes
Pombas is a small town, so street noise is moderate (mostly motorbikes and local traffic during the day). The main road runs past the hotel. Nightlife is minimal, but early morning market activity can be audible from front rooms.
Insider tips
1) Ask for a room on the first floor facing the rear — quieter and still have a window view. 2) If arriving by car, note that parking is on-street; check with reception for the best spot near the entrance (unmarked, but safe).
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Casa das Ilhas
Free basic Wi-Fi in lobby and restaurant (download 5 Mbps, upload 2 Mbps). Paid premium tier (1,000 CVE per 24h) in rooms with 20 Mbps download.
No lift. Two-storey building with stairs only.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand. Lobby has a few back issues of local papers.
Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 12:00. Early bag-drop available from 10:00 if room not ready. Late check-out to 18:00 is half the night rate, subject to availability.
Free and secure, available 24/7 at reception.
No step-free entry; two steps at main entrance. No wheelchair-accessible rooms or bathrooms. No lift.
Free on-site parking for 8 cars, unreserved. Nearest public car park is 200 m east at the town square, 200 CVE per 24h. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: 30% advance deposit required at booking; incidental hold of 5,000 CVE placed on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Capela São Pedro (117 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: Igreja "Nossa Senhora de Fátima" (1.5 km · ~19 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Hotel Aldeia Manga — 49 m · ~1 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Merceária — 464 m · ~6 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Cabo Verdean Escudo, CVE
Change money at banks or official exchange offices; avoid the airport and tourist bureaux as rates are poor.
Cards are accepted in larger hotels and some supermarkets, but cash is king in smaller shops, markets, and taxis.
Tip 5-10% in restaurants if service is good; taxis don't expect a tip; hotel staff appreciate 100-200 CVE for help with bags.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A bica (small espresso) costs about 50-70 CVE at a local pastelaria.
A prato do dia (daily plate) with fish, rice, and salad costs around 400-500 CVE at a modest eatery.
A main course of grilled fish or chicken with sides runs about 500-700 CVE at a local restaurant.
Look for cachupa (stew) or grilled fish from small stalls near the market or the main square.
Local minimercados (small grocery shops) are common; there's no large supermarket chain in Pombas itself.
The weekly market on Saturday morning has second-hand clothes and basic new items at low prices.
Shared aluguer vans (minibuses) cost around 50-100 CVE per ride within the area; from the airport (if you mean São Pedro or Sal's airport) budget travellers take a shared taxi or aluguer to the ferry then to Pombas.
Eat where locals eat for cheaper prato do dia; buy bottled water in bulk from minimercados; negotiate prices at the market only if buying multiple items.
Emergency Contacts
PombasIn Pombas, dial 132 for police, 130 for ambulance, 131 for fire. For non-urgent help, the local health centre is at +238 262 1120. The nearest hospital is in Mindelo (Hospital Dr. Baptista de Sousa, +238 231 1120). Note that English may not be widely spoken; French or Portuguese phrases (e.g., 'Preciso de ajuda' for 'I need help') are handy. Save the national emergency number 112 as a backup, but it may not always connect locally in rural areas like Pombas.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Pombas, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Casa das Ilhas
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Porto Novo minibus stop (next to market) → Pombas town square (5-min walk to Pensão Chez Sandro)
💡 Cheapest option but cramped – you'll share with locals and sacks of produce. Best if you're travelling light. The driver drops you at the main square; walk uphill past the church to the pensão.
Porto Novo ferry terminal, Santo Antão → Pensão Chez Sandro, Pombas
💡 Shared taxis leave once full (4 passengers), cheaper but slower. If you have luggage, go private – the road has tight hairpin turns and a crammed back seat isn't fun. Drivers accept euros but at poor rates.
Cesária Évora Airport (RAI), São Vicente → Pensão Chez Sandro, Pombas, Santo Antão
💡 The journey involves a taxi from RAI to Porto Novo ferry (15 mins), followed by a 1-hour ferry to Santo Antão, then a final taxi climb to Pombas (30 mins). Ask for João by name at the port – he knows the winding roads well and charges fair rates. Book through Pensão Chez Sandro to avoid haggling.
Pombas taxi rank (behind church) → Villages like Paul, Ribeira da Torre or Coculi
💡 If you're heading into the Paul Valley for hiking, catch a morning aluguer before 9am. Sit in the back for views – hold tight, drivers are speedy on gravel. Pay as you leave, exact change in CVE preferred.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Casa das Ilhas?
Request a room on the first floor (floor 1) facing the rear courtyard. These rooms are slightly elevated above ground level, reducing street noise, and the courtyard orientation avoids the front road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Casa das Ilhas?
Avoid ground-floor rooms (floor 0) facing the main road. These are closest to street-level noise and pedestrian traffic, with no buffer from the pavement.
Is Casa das Ilhas noisy?
Pombas is a small town, so street noise is moderate (mostly motorbikes and local traffic during the day). The main road runs past the hotel. Nightlife is minimal, but early morning market activity can be audible from front rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at Casa das Ilhas?
Rooms at the front of the hotel (facing the main road through Pombas) offer sea views over the town, but with traffic noise. Rear rooms overlook the village hills and are quieter.
What are insider tips for staying at Casa das Ilhas?
1) Ask for a room on the first floor facing the rear — quieter and still have a window view. 2) If arriving by car, note that parking is on-street; check with reception for the best spot near the entrance (unmarked, but safe).
What time is check-in at Casa das Ilhas?
Check-in at Casa das Ilhas is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Casa das Ilhas have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi in lobby and restaurant (download 5 Mbps, upload 2 Mbps). Paid premium tier (1,000 CVE per 24h) in rooms with 20 Mbps download.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Casa das Ilhas?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Casa das Ilhas?
A prato do dia (daily plate) with fish, rice, and salad costs around 400-500 CVE at a modest eatery.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Casa das Ilhas?
Shared aluguer vans (minibuses) cost around 50-100 CVE per ride within the area; from the airport (if you mean São Pedro or Sal's airport) budget travellers take a shared taxi or aluguer to the ferry then to Pombas.
When is the best time to visit Pombas?
January to March – dry, sunny, and cool enough for long hikes; fewer tourists than December or April.
Top Attractions in Pombas
💡 Go at sunrise to watch fishermen haul in their catch — they'll often sell fresh tuna straight off the boat.
💡 Buy a bag of grogue (local sugarcane spirit) from stall 14 — 100 CVE for half a litre and they'll decant it into a plastic bottle.
💡 Sunday mass at 9am includes local choir singing morna — arrive early to get a pew near the front.
💡 Best at dusk when the fishing boats return and the hills go purple — mosquitoes come out fast after dark, so bring repellent.
💡 Start from the cemetery at the north end of town — the path is easiest to follow from there. Take water and a hat; there's zero shade.